Recordings from the National Folklore Collection

Early Irish Voices

The audio archive of the National Folklore Collection, University College Dublin, houses some 1,100 wax cylinder recordings of folk narratives, folk song and folk music. The earliest of these date from the 1890s on the occasion of the first national Feis Ceoil competitions, which were held in Dublin and Belfast. This unique collection spans almost sixty years of folklore recording up to the mid 20th century. A selection is now available on Béal Beo.

Detailed account of a pistol duel between the landlord Major Bingham and a Catholic neighbour, Liam Elwood, from Erris, Co. Mayo. Recorded from Seán Ó Raghallaigh of Oiligh (Elly), Iorras, Co. Mayo, in 1954.

A wealth of tradition is recorded about the blessed island of Inishglora, County Mayo, whose soil was said to repel rats. This song was recorded from Bríd Bairéad (Bean Uí Ghacháin), Binghamstown, Co. Mayo, in 1954.

A fisherman who casts his knife into the sea is later taken under the waves to retrieve it from a fairy woman in which it is stuck. Recorded from Anna Ní Mhurchú of Dún Ibhir, Achill, Co. Mayo in 1952.

A fragment of the international tale, Godfather Death, in which Death explains that medical charms cannot overcome death. Recorded from Eoin Ó Cianáin, Creggan, Co. Tyrone, in 1929.

Supported by:

The National Folklore Collection gratefully acknowledges the support of the following organisations: The Heritage Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Muintir Thír Eoghain / The Tyrone Association and the Ireland Funds